Foxes' bite proves a match for the style of Tigana

Leicester City 0 Fulham

By the time the football Foxes had been unleashed for their all-important match against Fulham, their rugby union cousins, the Leicester Tigers, had devoured Bath. There was no repeat at Filbert Street yesterday ­ far from it in a match famished of chances - but at least Peter Taylor's men have secured their first clean sheet of the season and, in doing so, prolonged the reign of their under-pressure manager.

Leicester have come under much criticism of late, but the truth is that neither club have made the best of starts to their campaign. Only a point separated them at three o'clock and it was much the same story by five, as they shared the spoils. "I thought we were very decent, particularly in the second half," Taylor said somewhat over-enthusiastically after this drab game.

Jean Tigana had shown his intent, and confidence, by selecting an attacking Fulham XI. No doubt sensing the opportunity to secure a first away win of the season, the Frenchman started with his three principal strikers, Luis Boa Morte, Louis Saha and new boy Steve Marlet. He even felt relaxed enough to hand Zat Knight his Premiership debut outside the comfort of Craven Cottage. And the 21-year-old did well until he succumbed to cramp on the hour.

It took Fulham less than a minute to create their first chance, when Saha broke down the right side of Leic-ester's defence and evaded two half-hearted challenges before delivering a low cross into the area which Marlet just failed to connect with from the penalty spot. It was a sign of things to come, as the visitors continuously sought to expose the nervy-looking Frank Sinclair. His performance quickly went from bad to worse and it surprised few when the former Chelsea man was finally put out of his misery 12 minutes before the interval, making way for Gary Rowett.

With just under 15 minutes gone, Boa Morte fed Marlet inside the box and he looked odds-on to score his maiden Fulham goal until Lee Marshall blocked smartly from 12 yards. On 29 minutes, Marlet turned provider, this time by floating a dangerous cross into the crowded area, which Sinclair could only half-clear. Lee Clark pounced on the rebound and it took the Leic-ester goalkeeper, Ian Walker, two attempts to bring the ball under control.

"We played well in patches and created chances," Clark said, "but we can't seem to put them away. That is our biggest problem at the moment. We need victories and feel disappointed we didn't leave here with three points."

Leicester seemed content, or perhaps resigned, to sitting back and soaking up the pressure in anticipation of a possible break. It duly came on the half-hour when Muzzy Izzet and Jordan Stewart combined to good effect down the left to set up the onrushing Dean Sturridge at the near post. His instant shot, though, went sailing over the bar.

Leicester were much improved after the restart, pressing the opposition further up the pitch and preventing them from playing their usual passing game. The Foxes suddenly had more bite about them and were creating space out wide. Twice Sturridge went close with powerful headers, first on the hour when he knocked Dennis Wise's free-kick over the bar, then six minutes later when his low, angled effort just went past Edwin van der Sar's left-hand post. Leicester's numerous crosses into the box were causing the Fulham defence problems and matters were not helped when Tigana had to bring on Kit Symons in place of Knight for the last half-hour.

Fulham did eventually recover their composure, though, and looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the closing stages. But the Leicester rearguard were far more resolute and, even after they had lost the excellent Stewart to a suspected broken arm, nothing could break their resolve.

"If we continue to play like that I have no doubt we'll be all right," Taylor suggested. Not against better finishers, they won't.

Leicester City 0 Fulham 0

Attendance: 18,918